Sri Lankan Highlights Adventure Tour

Ayuboyan!! So lucky me recently returned from the most magical 9 night adventure tour of Sri Lanka , the Island of Serendipity, courtesy of Exodus Travel one of our small group adventure travel suppliers. Being a beach kinda girl I have never experienced a small group tour nor a culture one at that but now I can confidentaly say I am a total convert!!! Having a local expert guide always on hand that is passionate and knowledgeable enables you to experience the true culture of a destination and really helps you to learn so much about the people and places you visit bringing the history and traditions more to life than ever. So huge thank you to Dilip our guide, he was invaluable. From start to finish we were so well looked after and everything was taken care of , a totally stress free experience. Our itinerary consisted of visiting Buddhist cities, fragrant spice gardens, ancient fortresses and a multitude of temples all set among the verdant flora that only a tropical climate can produce. Plus a cycle ride and visits to historic cities and temples were also included, it was a busy but fun packed itinerary with time to unwind and enjoy some tropical sun. Day 1: Arrival Day Kept pinching myself I had actually arrived! Not even out the airport and loved it already. Our local tour guide Dilip met us on arrival and took us to our first hotel -Pegasus Reef - a perfect stopover hotel in Wattala, just on the outskirts of Colombo around 25 mins from the airport.. Beautiful surroundings on the beach, you cant swim in the sea though due to currents but the hotel pool is perfect and just what you need after a long flight. We had a delicious 4 course meal in the evening in the hotels a la carte Seafood restaurant, a beautiful setting overlooking the beach and such welcoming hospitality by the staff and general manager. With a full stomach we headed off to bed for some much needed zzzz.'s Day 2 Sigiriya Rock Climb This morning we transferred to Hotel Sigiriya where we will be staying for the next couple of nights a beautiful hotel that had a safari lodge feel to it and a beautiful central pool with a stunning view over Sigirya Rock, In the afternoon we climbed Sigiriya Rock or Lions Rock as it’s otherwise known. The rock is so steep that its top overhangs the sides, rises to an elevation of 1,144 feet (349 metres) above sea level and is some 600 feet (180 metres) above the surrounding plain. Not a great lover of heights but I’m so glad I persevered and made it to the top, the views were incredible!! Day3 - Cycling, Temples and an Elephant Safari ?? Cycled through the ancient 10th Centuary capital of Polonnaruw this morning. There are many Buddhist relics and ruins here, dating from a 1,000 years ago when Sinhalese culture reached its zenith. In the afternoon we visited a local village and stopped for lunch in the rural village of Hiriwaduna and had traditional Sri Lankan food which was delicious . The afternoon was spent in Minneriya National Park - famous for the “Gathering of the Elephants” . we took a 4x4 and observed the elephants in their natural habitat. ?? Day 4: Cave Temples , Local Village and Canoes Visited the Cave temples in Dambulla today.. There are five caves decorated with ancient Buddhist murals and over 150 statues showcasing cultural and spiritual significance dating back to the 1st Century BC. After we headed to the rural village of Habarana in Hiriwaduna situated in the luscious countryside . We took a cart ride through the Paddy fields , had a relaxing trip in a canoe , drank fresh coconuts then finished with the most amazing lunch made by a locals and served in their house which was super delicious. What an insight to their lives! Day 5: Kandy, Spice Gardens, Massages , Botanical Gardens & Traditional Dancing ?? We had a great morning visit to the Spice Gardens near Matale , was amazing to see and learn all about the various herbs and spices growing in their natural environment. After the tour we all got a 10 minute massage! The afternoon was spent at the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens with houses over 4000 different plant species, then on the being we watched a performance of traditional Kandyan Dancing and fire walking ?? Day 6, Kandy, Buddah and blessing from the chief Monk! ?? Today was amazing as we totally immersed ourselves in the local culture with a visit to the Temple of the Tooth which houses the most important Buddhist relic in Sri Lanka. It’s is so busy so be prepared (think rush hour on a packed tube) but well worth the experience with the music , beautiful flowers and food parcel that the locals bring as offerings to Buddha. After the visit we met with the chief Monk in his living quarters next to the temple . We each received a blessing from the Monk. One of my most memorable moments. Day 7: Tea Picking and Spectacular views over Misty Tea Plantations We were due to take the scenic rail ride today into the misty tea hills from Kandy to Nuwara Eliya ( Little England) but due to a technical fault with the train we had to avert to plan B so a coach ride onto the misty hills was the agenda. Nuwara Eliya was a favoured cool escape for the British, at 6,128ft (1,868m) above sea level this town is most famous for its tea production. The scenery was spectacular . We visited a tea factory, met local tea pickers and even picked tea leaves ourselves . Was a great day and a tick from my bucket list. Day 8: Final Day & Goodbyes Can’t believe today is our final day so after breakfast we leave the misty hills of Nuwara Eliya and head back to Colombo via the small town of Kitulgala for a spot of white water rafting on the river . Scenery is so beautiful here with luscious greenery and picturesque landscapes. You can also find the remains of the bridge from the film “Bridge on the River Kwai”. Although set in Thailand it was actually filmed in Sri Lanka. The Last Supper in Sri Lanka Checked into our final hotel ,The Cinnamon Red, in Colombo and WOW, the views from the rooftop pool and bar! Dinner was taken at the sister hotel Cinnamon Grand and the setting was beautiful, traditional music and fire eaters. A memorable last meal together with a great group. We’ve learnt so much and had the best time. Trip details Activity :Culture Group Size :4 - 16 Ages :16+ Carbon Footprint :25kg CO2e per person per day To book this trip or enquire about similar itinerarys please get in touch today 020 3603 5590.